K. O. Ostewig,
was born on July 4, 1842, on the sixty-sixth anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence, and our freedom from the shackles of tyranny that bound us so
firmly; third child of family of six children, four sons and two daughters; his
parents were very poor and in humble circumstances; self-educated, attending
rude pioneer schools for a short time; assisted parents and started out in life,
first working by the year for his clothes and board, and then being employed by
hard-hearted and harsh master at salary of four dollars per year; apprenticed as
blacksmith and carpenter, and worked at both trades; in time became an expert
mechanic; slaved at trade in Chicago, Illinois, from 1864, to great Chicago fire
in 1871; previously had married at age of twenty-seven years to Miss Anna
Quitno, of Creston, Illinois, and in 1872 removed to Creston; removed to
Lee, Lee County, Illinois, in 1873, and was one of its first settlers, assisting
in its incorporation; had no money, but through financial assistance of Haldor
A. Eden, who placed his utmost confidence in the young man, he erected one of
the first store buildings in Lee and engaged in the hardware business; later
engaged in general mercantile and agricultural implement business, which he
conducted for many years; sold out to son on October 18, 1900, and retired from
active business life; never aspired to official honors, and although honored on
various occasions, never sought office and never defeated for office; was
alderman of Village of Lee from 1879 to 1884, when he resigned; served as
Village Treasurer from June 1, 1898 to April 22, 1901, being succeeded by his
son; held various other local honors; was a Christian from early boyhood unto
death; never in his entire life touched a drop of liquor nor was he ever heard
to utter a profane word; gave liberally of his means to churches, charitable and
benevolent societies, as well as to poor and needy people, attended the Lee
Methodist Episcopal Church; politically, a Republican; not a member of any
fraternal society; died of pneumonia at his home in Lee, Illinois, February 19,
1902, aged fifty-nine years; was survived by widow, two children, three brothers
and a sister; knew what privation and poverty was; a plain, unassuming and
hard-working man; had lived in two different centuries; in all his business
dealings believed that "honesty is the best policy"; popularly known by every
one simply as "K.O."; was of a jovial and pleasant disposition; a dear husband
and a kind and loving father.